Chapter 19
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Serena couldn’t believe she was being fired so suddenly and without justification. She tried to plead her case with Mrs. Bret,
“Mrs. Bret, I have been dedicated to my job. I really didn’t have any issues with customers. This feels so unfair.”
“I understand, Serena, her manager said sympathetically, “You have been an excellent employee, but this guest is someone the club can’t afford to upset. Once they demanded your removal, there was nothing we could do.”
Mrs. Bret looked uncomfortable but firm.
Protecting the club’s reputation and VIP relationships clearly took precedence.
“We’ll still pay you for the full month,” she added, attempting to soften the blow. “And I have arranged a 700–dollar employee benefit as compensation.”
Feeling defeated. Serena left the office and headed to the employee locker room to pack up her belongings..
As she was leaving the golf course, she ran into Lindsey, who had just finished his shift.
He didn’t know she got fired.
“Serena!” Lindsey called out, confused. “Isn’t this your shift
you changed into your uniform yet?”
“I got fired, Serena admitted quietly, her voice heavy with disappointment. “A customer filed a complaint about me
“Fired?” Lindsey repeated, his face filled with disbelief.
Having worked at the golf course for five years, Lindsey knew that terminations were rare.
Usually, only employees who argued with guests or pried into their personal affairs faced such consequences.
Receiving complaints meant a deduction in wage or a re–training, but that would be all of it.
For someone like Serena, who was well–known for her kind personality and excellent service, this didn’t add up.
Serena recounted what Mrs. Bret had told her in the office.
Lindsey clenched his jaw, anger flashing in his eyes. The situation was deeply unjust.
“Don’t worry,” he said resolutely. “Tonight, I’ll dig into the records of the customers you have served over the past few days. We’ll narrow it down and figure out who filed that complaint against you.”
Lindsey had been at Starcrest Golf Club for years and knew most of the regulars by face, if not by name.
Deep down, he already had a strong suspicion about who might be behind the complaint.
Only someone with significant power in Pashew City would dare to pressure Starcrest sp–openly.
Serena, uneasy with his determination, tried to talk him out of “You don’t have to do this. If you’re caught accessing guest records-
Lindsey interrupted her. “Serena, I trained you. I have watched you grow into this role, and now they expect me to just stand by and let you be dismissed unfairly?
“No way. I’d never forgive myself if I let this slide. Don’t worry–l handle it.”
He walked her to the door, waiting until she climbed into her Uer. The he headed back inside to start digging through the
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records from her last two shift
He recalled that the day Gabriel finished his game, Darren had specifically asked him to look out for Serena.
Since Darren was acting on Gabriel’s behalf, it carried weight.
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Now that Serena–someone indirectly under Gabriel’s watch-had been inexplicably fired, Lindsey was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Back at her apartment. Serena was browsing job listings for part–time work while boiling water for pasta in the shared.
kitchen
For the past month, she’d been enjoying the hearty dinners provided by the golf club.
Now that she was unemployed, she was back to basic, budget–friendly meals–tacos and spaghetti.
The adjustment wasn’t easy.
As the water began bubbling, Serena’s roommate returned with her boyfriend.
The couple entered the apartment, giggling and flirting, arms rapped around each other.
Serena, wanting no part of their theatrics, kept her focus
is pot of water.
It didn’t take long before their playful banter spiraled into yecup hur argument.
Serena sighed, cranking the stove heat higher to drown out their voices.
The
e woman, who lived in the master bedroom, was in her thirties and worked as a manicurist.
Her boyfriend, Ruben, was a younger man with a reputation as a neighborhood troublemaker.
Their relationship was a constant cycle of fights and arguments, sometimes escalating to the point where the police had to
intervenc
Serena vividly recalled one particular night when officers showed up after a heated argument turned physical.
The woman had sworn she was done with Ruben, yet days later, he was back as though nothing had happened.
“Hey there, sweetheart,” a voice broke her train of thought.
Serena turned to see Ruben leaning against the doorway, a lewd grin plastered across his face.
“Making spaghetti?” he asked in a tone dripping with lechery.
Serena didn’t want to engage. “Yeah,” she muttered, keeping her eyes on the pot
Uncomfortable with his lingering presence, she hastily scooped the pasta onto a plate, poured on some meat sauce, and prepared to head back to her room.
Ruben didn’t block her, but his shameless gaze followed her every move
“So you’re the girl from the other room, right?” he continued, tring behind her.
As though speaking to himself, he added, “Didn’t notice you before. Let’s hang out sometime. Grab a drink. Add me on WhatsApp, sweetheart.”
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When she realized he was following too closely, Serena felt a surge of unease.
Glancing toward the master bedroom, she raised her voice deliberately. “Hi! I just made some pasta. Want some?”
Her neighbor, who had been lying in bed, sat up groggily, visibly annoyed.
As her eyes adjusted, she spotted Ruben loitering in the hallway and her expression darkened.
“Ruben, you bastard!” she shrieked. “Were you hitting on her while I was asleep?”
Ruben, caught off guard, stumbled over his words, “What? No! What makes you think that?”
Seizing the distraction, Serena quickly slipped away and closed her door behind her.
And there they go, starting another round again.
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The woman’s voice grew louder, reverberating through the apartment. “Claire said you tried to hit on her too! You can’t control yourself around pretty hoes, can you?”
Serena couldn’t endure the constant arguments any longer.
One thing was certain: she needed to move out of this place as on as she could.
When she’d first rented the apartment, the agent had ass
deciding factor in choosing it.
Reality, however, had made a joke on her.
the roommates were women, which had been the?
Later that night, she told Queenie about her sudden dismissal from the golf club. Queenie was sympathetic and promised to keep an eye out for any suitable job openings.
The next morning, Serena made her way to Stella Learning for her art class.
As she approached the door, raised voices carried down the hallway.
One hoarse voice screamed, “That Miss Murry! She only has a high school diploma, and you let her teach my grandson how to paint?
“If he doesn’t get into the best art school in the country, it’ll be your fault!”
Serena hesitated, recognizing the voice of a parent from her class
Queenie and another woman–a dance teacher–were trying their best to pacify the irate woman, whose anger only grew louder.
Queenie’s voice was calm but firm. “Ma’am, let’s talk about this rationally. Miss Murry is a college student, as you know.
“She’s very dedicated to teaching, and Maxie loves her lessons. Every class, he specifically asks for her help with his drawings.
The dance teacher chimed in quickly. “And don’t forget, there’s a head art teacher overseeing the class. Miss Murry is just an assistant. She doesn’t set the curriculum.”
But the old woman wasn’t interested in their explanations. With surprising strength, she shoved Queenie aside.
Queenie stumbled, hitting the corner of a desk and wincing in plan.
“I want my grandson’s tuition refunded! Or I want a new teacher the woman demanded, her voice grating with fury.
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She continued, “Our family takes education seriously. I won’t let someone with just a high school diploma ruin his future in the arts!”
Straightening herself, Queenie’s expression hardened. “Ma’am, Maxie has been attending this training center since the beginning of the year–long before Miss Murry joined. If you keep doing this, we’ll have to call the police.”
Unfazed, the woman flopped down on the couch and began walling loudly.
“I know you refunded another parent’s tuition last night. Why won’t you do the same for me? You think you can brush me off just because I’m old? I’m not senile!”
At that moment, the dance teacher noticed Serena standing in the doorway. Her eyes widened in alarm, and she hurried over to pull Serena into another room.
“Serena, don’t go in there! Queenie’s handling it,” she said quickly
The woman looked old and skinny, but her strength was shocking.
Earlier, when she had been yelling at the entrance. it had taken two staff members and a security guard to drag her inside. Serena let herself be led away but couldn’t hide her confusion “What’s going on? Is one of my students asking for a refund?”
The dance teacher offered an awkward laugh. “Oh, you‘ dealing with this sort of thing”
But Serena’s mind raced as the pieces began to fit together.
me parents can get. They overreact. Queenie’s used to
She had been fired from the golf club yesterday without a proper explanation. Now, a parent was making a Learning, targeting her directly.
This didn’t feel like a coincidence.
